250+ compound names for babies

A little like Elliot (or Elliette), Electra, and Etta, Ellette is a zippy but rarely used compound name.

Popular in France in the mid-20th-century, Lysiane is a sweet but sharp compound name blending the French Lys and the classic Anne.

A smoosh name, blending Betty and Jane that made the US Top 1000 in the 1920s.

Adamarie is an unusual compound name, combining Ad- names like Ada, Adele, Adelaide, and Adeline, all sharing the meaning "noble", with Marie, meaning "drop in the sea; beloved". This name feels a little like Adelaide, Emery, Adamina, and Adelyn at the same time. With a hint of both vintage and modern vibes, this name has a pleasing combined meaning.

If one Italian name won't do.

A modern Hebrew compound name, blending the popular Noah/Noa with the name Hebrew name Li to mean either "my motion" or "my rest and repose" depending on which form of Noah you take as the first element. Currently a rare choice, it could fit in with Romi, Novalee, and Rosalie.

Khyrein first appeared in the US statistics in 2022 and is a name with several possible origins. On one hand, it could be a spelling variation of either the Irish name, Kieran, meaning "little dark one", or of the Greek and Persian Cyrus, meaning "sun" or "lord".

Pretty smoosh name from the popular elements Ella + Dora, or a spin on Eleanora influenced by Dora "gift".

Todrick, an invented name that combines Todd with -rick ending names such as Frederick, is heavily associated with performer Todrick Hall. Hall initially became recognized for his success on American Idol, and since then has become a YouTube star and judge on RuPaul's Drag Race.

Short and sharp but endearing too, Ruthanne is a combination of two classic names. Briefly popular in the 40s, Ruthanne is still given to around 15 girls each year - and, with Ruthie back on the charts, perhaps it will gain more attention. Ruth-Anne Cunningham, known as RuthAnne, is an Irish singer and songwriter who has worked with JoJo and Britney Spears.

Neymar was unheard of before Brazilian football sensation Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior came to fame. It is thought to be a "smoosh" name of Netuno (Neptune) and Mar (Mars).

What do you do when you love two variations of the same name that also sound quite distinct? One option is to blend them together and keep the best of both. Elizabelle - and Elizabella - have been in use since the 2000s, though they haven't caught on just yet. Possibly divisive, but both are rather pleasing to say.

A name that feels slightly whimsical and arty, but vintage too, Meridel is associated with the American writer, Meridel Le Sueur (1900-1996). She may have been named after her mother, Marian Lucy, known as Mary Del.

While still rare, this compound name for boys jumped nearly 3000 places in rank last year, perhaps thanks to its cowboy-core vibe and its bad boy image.

George R.R. Martin named lovable Game of Thrones character Samwell Tarly, Jon Snow's closest friend in the Night's Watch, after Samwise Gamgee, Frodo's companion in The Lord of the Rings. Both characters are earthy, kind and rotund.

A contemporary smoosh name that entered the stats in 2010. Merging two popular favorites seamlessly into one, Audriella has star quality thanks to namesakes Ella Fitzgerald and Audrey Hepburn.

Kacelyn is a modern invented name, given to around 15 girls every year. It combines the unisex Kacey with the popular suffix, -lyn, giving it the possible meanings "brave in battle, but soft and tender too"; "vigilant one by the lake", or "watchful and pretty", depending on which etymological roots you decide you want to blend.

Maricruz combines Maria and Cruz into a devotional name for the Virgin Mary. The name peaked in the 90s and early 2000s, popularized by Mexican actress Maricruz Olivier and the Mexican telenova Quinceañera (Sweet 15) which featured a character called Maricruz.

Fanciful feminissima name created by L. Frank Baum for a character in The Patchwork Girl of Oz.

A relatively new name combining the Old Norse elements norðr "north" and finnr "person from Finland" or "wanderer" to create a name that could mean "person from the north of Finland" or "northern wanderer". Rarely used as a given name, it could appeal to those who like North, Weston, Finn, Finley, or Thorfinn.